A major E3 2018 announcement saw five new indie developers enter the Microsoft Studios stable of experts. The Iniative, Undead Labs, Playground Games, Ninja Theory, and Compulsion Games will now get the resources and backing available to Microsoft Studios members. This means more games like Playground's Forza Series, which set hallmarks for quality in racing sims. It means experimental titles like Compulsion's We Happy Few will get the AAA treatment. Moving to Microsoft Studios means the continuation of Undead Labs' zombie survival games which already have over 2 million players running for their virtual lives in State of Decay 2. Ninja Theory may also be working on a new franchise for Microsoft Studios. Fans were introduced to the many studios in the group's lineup, possibly for the first time, and the screens showcased the hit indie titles that helped Microsoft choose the four studios that joined their group.
The Initiative is a brand new studio just announced today that brings together veterans from AAA studios and indie developers under one roof with the goal of making high-quality games with the personal touch of indie development. Fans of all of the studios can expect more to come, and the announcement made a big point of confirming that creators under the Microsoft Studios umbrella will have all the creative freedom they need to pursue the indie-style games that their fans have come to love. This means more indie-style games with the AAA touch that can help them stand out in today's market. Games like Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice will be free to explore many deeper issues that rarely appear in interactive media. These types of titles are likely to be at the core of the new offerings from the expanded Microsoft Studios.
If you want to know more about this and other announcements happening at E3 then be sure to check out our E3 2018 Coverage Hub.
